Chromium OS (or Chrome OS) is a new breed of open-source operating system, and like much of Google’s product suite is completely free of charge. The Google Chromium OS relies on the web for all but the bare-bones, and aims to bring the whole internet to your fingertips within seconds of turning on your PC.

The only problem is that Google’s official buildsHow to Run Google Chrome OS From a USB DriveHow to Run Google Chrome OS From a USB DriveYou don't need to buy a Chromebook to enjoy the features of Google's desktop operating system. In fact, all you need is a working computer and a USB Drive. This is how...Read More suffer from poor hardware support, driver issues and are unlikely to work unless you’re using a brand new netbook. Enter Flow, an exciting Chromium OS build with much improved compatibility allowing you to sample your first taste of a lightning-fast web-reliant operating system, all from the comfort of a 2GB USB flash drive.

Mimicking Google’s popular Chrome web browser, the Google Chromium OS contains no applications or programs and instead uses web-based services such as Google Documents and Picnik. This is all part of Google’s plan to essentially turn their web browser into an operating system, and by doing so they’ve managed to drastically speed up the whole process of “getting online”.

Flow is a third-party build by an enthusiast called Hexxeh that provides a straight-forward means of test driving this new platform. I will be using Windows to create the bootable USB image, although once you have created your bootable Chromium OS build it will work in any other compatible system. Linux users may want to look here, and for the trickier Mac install there’s a handy YouTube video with full walkthrough.

Before starting it’s best to check whether your particular netbook, laptop or desktop is listed as a known compatible device. If you’re not listed, then you’ll probably want to try it anyway. If it works, you might want to let the author know!

Installing Chromium OS To USB

The first thing you’ll need to do is grab a copy of the USB image from Hexxeh’s main page. You can download directly from the server, or via a torrent link if you’d like to help seed and share the project afterwards. You’ll need a BitTorrent client if you’d like to be a good citizen.

Note that you may need administrator permission to write the image to USB, so ensure you are logged into Windows with full privileges.

Within the Win32 Disk Imager window navigate your way to the Chromium OS CD image (.img) file and select it. Select the USB drive you wish to use by choosing its corresponding letter within the drop down box. When you’re ready, hit Write. You’ll be warned that you are about to potentially corrupt your USB drive, click Yes and proceed.

Once the progress bar reaches its destination – you’re done.

Booting

Restart your PC and enter your BIOS setup. Depending on your PC, this will entail hitting something like the Del or F2 key as your PC first boots. Within these settings you’ll need to schedule your PC to boot from USB before it tries to launch your primary OS within your boot devices. Save your changes and restart your computer, making sure that all-important USB stick is inserted.

Once Chromium OS has loaded (don’t worry, your first boot might take a while) you can log in with your Google account. If you have trouble logging in, the default Flow username is facepunch and the password is the same. This will allow you to log in and play around, even if you have network troubles.

If you’re familiar with a web browser you’ll instantly be able to use Chromium, so it makes for a nice lightweight OS. It’s by no means perfect yet, but it’s handy if you “just need the web”.

Have you experimented with Google Chromium OS? Does Flow work on your PC? Let us know in the comments.

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Thomas_bielefeldt

October 5, 2010 at 11:15 am

I Have an extra laptop, How do I Install Chrome OS on that??Can I just writhe the images on a disk and the reboot my labtop with the disk in and then reboot and install Chroe OS as I would install any other OS??

I Have an extra laptop, How do I Install Chrome OS on that??
Can I just writhe the images on a disk and the reboot my labtop with the disk in and then reboot and install Chroe OS as I would install any other OS??

Hmm... seeing as Chrome repartitions the drive, I think you may have lost those items.

Have you tried any recovery programs? I've always got Recuva (http://www.piriform.com/recuva... on my PC as it's so handy when I clear memory cards and USB sticks.

It's freeware, and may just be worth a go.

You might need to delete those three partitions as well, in order to create a new usable volume. Open Windows Disk Manager (on Win 7/Vista and probably XP this is Start > (right click) Computer > Manage then "Disk Management" in the window that opens), delete the three listed volumes on your USB drive and create a new one.

You could even try using Recuva on this new partition again, though I'm not sure whether it'll work.

i may have loaded it successfully onto my usb with 1 or 2 things still saved on it :D and thus... I'd now like to get those things back... and it says i've corrupted the device and need to re format the usb, i've tried the trusty advice at ...http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/h... but no joy. any words of wisdom?

Hmm... seeing as Chrome repartitions the drive, I think you may have lost those items.

Have you tried any recovery programs? I've always got Recuva (http://www.piriform.com/recuva) on my PC as it's so handy when I clear memory cards and USB sticks.

It's freeware, and may just be worth a go.

You might need to delete those three partitions as well, in order to create a new usable volume. Open Windows Disk Manager (on Win 7/Vista and probably XP this is Start > (right click) Computer > Manage then "Disk Management" in the window that opens), delete the three listed volumes on your USB drive and create a new one.

You could even try using Recuva on this new partition again, though I'm not sure whether it'll work.

If you open up Windows Disk Manager (on Win 7/Vista and probably XP this is Start > (right click) Computer > Manage then "Disk Management" in the window that opens), delete the three listed volumes on your USB drive and create a new one.

Very cool. I'll be trying this out and will be telling my friend about this. I recently advised him to use Puppy Linux but all he wants is a browser that he can use on any computer without restrictions. I'll let him check this article out.

If you open up Windows Disk Manager (on Win 7/Vista and probably XP this is Start > (right click) Computer > Manage then "Disk Management" in the window that opens), delete the three listed volumes on your USB drive and create a new one.